The Hong Kong SAR government suddenly announced the suspension of its offices in Taiwan. The Taiwan government expressed deep regret over the Hong Kong government’s move.
The Hong Kong government announced on Tuesday (May 18, 2021) without prior warning that the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan would temporarily cease operations with immediate effect. A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said the decision was not related to the gradual deterioration of Taiwan’s new crown epidemic, but did not give a specific reason for the temporary closure of the office, nor did he say when or if it would reopen.
Relations between Taiwan and Hong Kong have deteriorated since Beijing pushed through a national security law in Hong Kong on June 30 last year. Taiwan set up the Taiwan-Hong Kong Service Exchange Office to provide counseling services and humanitarian assistance to people fleeing Hong Kong to Taiwan. The move is seen by Beijing as an act to undermine national unification.
Last July, the acting director of the Taiwan office in Hong Kong, Gao Mingcun, had to leave Hong Kong after refusing to sign a pledge to abide by the “one-China principle” and failing to get his visa renewed. Then, on July 21, the Hong Kong government said Taiwan had rejected the visa applications of two Hong Kong officials.
Last week, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said eight staff members of the Taiwan office in Hong Kong had to leave by the end of the year after failing to get their visas renewed. Meanwhile, Taipei has stopped issuing work visas for staff of the Hong Kong office in Taiwan on the grounds of reciprocity and preservation of national dignity.
Recent Comments